McLaren to fight Hamilton penalty
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4me2




Posts: 5434

PostPosted: Mon, 8th Sep 2008 20:48    Post subject: McLaren to fight Hamilton penalty
McLaren have said they intend to fight the punishment that stripped Lewis Hamilton of his Belgian Grand Prix win.

Stewards hit the Englishman with a 25-second penalty, demoting him to third, for cutting a chicane as he battled with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

McLaren said they would appeal on the grounds that Hamilton had immediately ceded the position back to Raikkonen.

Triple world champion Niki Lauda has described the stewards' decision as "the worst judgement in F1 history".

"It is the most perverted judgment I have ever seen," said the Austrian, who won the title for both Ferrari and McLaren.

"It's absolutely unacceptable when three functionaries (the stewards) influence the championship like this."

A McLaren spokesman said: "Having passed the lead back to Kimi, Lewis repositioned, moving his car across and behind Kimi to the right-hand line.

"He then outbraked him into the hairpin. We intend to appeal."

McLaren have seven days to decide whether to go ahead with the appeal.

If they do, it would be formally lodged by the UK's national sporting authority, the Motor Sports Association, with Formula One's governing body the FIA.

There is also some debate about whether the rules allow for teams to appeal against a time penalty - but that would be decided by the FIA court of appeal if the case comes before it.

The incident that led to the penalty arrived at the end of lap 42 as the rain Hamilton had been praying for duly arrived.

It allowed F1's wet-weather king to reel in leader Raikkonen and on the approach to the Bus Stop chicane, he had the Finn in his sights.

If there's a penalty, then there's something wrong because I was ahead going into that corner, so I didn't gain an advantage from it

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton darted around the outside, both drivers locked up their brakes on entry and Hamilton took evasive action by using a run-off area to his left.

The rules say drivers are not allowed to gain an advantage by cutting a chicane.

Returning to the track in the lead, the 23-year-old knew he had to yield his position, otherwise he would have been duly penalised.

Hamilton appeared to do so, with Raikkonen crossing the start-finish line narrowly ahead, before Hamilton dived across the track to the inside and overtook the Ferrari into the La Source hairpin.

But race stewards Nicholas Deschaux, Surinder Thatti and Yves Bacquelaine saw things differently.

The McLaren spokesman said: "We looked at all our data and also made it available to the FIA stewards.

"It showed that, having lifted [off the accelerator], Lewis was 6kph slower than Kimi as they crossed the start-finish line.

"Based on this data, we have no option other than to register our intention to appeal.

"We are a racing team and we will now focus on Monza (the Italian Grand Prix next Sunday), with a view to extending our lead in the drivers' world championship."

Despite his joy at the apparent win, describing his fight with Raikkonen as "one of the most exciting for a long time", Hamilton perhaps had an inkling as to what might transpire.

606: DEBATE
How much longer will McLaren and their sponsors put up with this latest put-down? Although it won't make a scrap of difference, I won't be following the Grand Prix season any more. Shameful all round

charitygolfdays

Asked prior to the penalty whether he would be surprised if the stewards did punish him, Hamilton replied: "If there's a penalty, then there's something wrong because I was ahead going into that corner, so I didn't gain an advantage from it.

"We were still able to race at the next corner and I gave him his spot back and I think it was fair and square."

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali was thrilled with the turn of events, however, and stated: "I have often said the race is not over until the official results are published and that was the case today."

Not for the first time this season Hamilton has incurred the wrath of the stewards.

Hamilton's first punishment was in the third race of the season in Bahrain, where he and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen were handed five-place grid penalties for impeding other drivers in qualifying.

Hamilton was then demoted 10 places for the French Grand Prix after driving into the back of Raikkonen in the pit lane in the previous race in Canada.

Add the drive-through penalty in Magny-Cours and a 5,000 euros fine for being late to a press conference in Valencia a fortnight ago, and it has been a controversial year for Hamilton.

But win or lose the appeal, he still has a lead going into the final five races of the season.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7603179.stm
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$en$i
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Posts: 3127

PostPosted: Mon, 8th Sep 2008 21:19    Post subject:
I guess that the McLaren team, like all former cheaters, has to be scrutinized. Razz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren#Espionage

I rarely watch F1 GP, but I used to think that there was a bias against the season leader, unless it was Ferrari. I remember dubious decisions against e.g. Renault when they were a bit too much competitive...
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4me2




Posts: 5434

PostPosted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 18:05    Post subject:
McLaren lose appeal over Hamilton
We're racers, we're naturally competitive and we love to overtake - overtaking is difficult, and it feels great when you manage to pull off a great passing manoeuvre
Lewis Hamilton

McLaren's appeal against Lewis Hamilton's 25-second penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix has been rejected.

Hamilton strongly pressed his case at Monday's appeal to the FIA in Paris as he aimed to overturn his punishment for cutting a chicane at Spa.

The 23-year-old was demoted into third, with Felipe Massa handed the victory.

The five judges ruled that the appeal was inadmissible and so Hamilton's four-point deduction stands, leaving him one point clear in the title race.

If successful, Hamilton would have seen his lead increase over Ferrari's Massa to seven points.

However, has the appeal been heard it is possible the penalty against Hamilton could have increased.

"Article 152 of the International Sporting Code states that drive-through penalties are 'not susceptible to appeal'," the FIA said in a statement.

"Having heard the explanations of the parties, the court has concluded that the appeal is inadmissible."

And after Tuesday's verdict, Hamilton said: "People will probably expect me to be depressed about today's result, but that isn't me.

"All I want to do now is put this matter behind me and get on with what we drivers do best: racing each other.

"We're racers, we're naturally competitive and we love to overtake. Overtaking is difficult, and it feels great when you manage to pull off a great passing manoeuvre.

"If it pleases the spectators and TV viewers, it's better still. So I'm disappointed, yes, but not depressed."

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's chief operating officer, added: "We are naturally disappointed with today's verdict, and to have received no ruling on the substance of our appeal.

"No-one wants to win Grands Prix in court; but we felt that Lewis had won the Belgian Grand Prix, on track, in an exciting and impressive manner.

"Our legal team and witnesses calmly explained this, as well as our belief that the appeal should be admissible, to the FIA International Court of Appeal.

"It nonetheless decided that our appeal was inadmissible. We will now concentrate on the remaining four races of the 2008 Formula 1 season."

The appeal court judges were faced with two decisions.

They first had to consider whether McLaren's appeal was admissible, as Formula One rules do not allow teams to appeal against drive-through penalties.

The penalty given to Hamilton was technically a drive-through penalty.

However, as it was issued retrospectively McLaren barrister Mark Philips QC had argued that no actual drive-through took place, so the appeal should be considered.

Secondly, the judges had to decide if Hamilton sufficiently surrendered the advantage he had gained when cutting the chicane.

606: DEBATE

hermanbrewer

The Englishman was battling with Massa's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen at the Spa circuit when he cut the Bus Stop chicane, resulting in him overtaking the Finnish driver.

Despite allowing Raikkonen to immediately reclaim the lead, Hamilton then overtook the Ferrari driver at the next corner to go back in front.

As video footage of the incident was shown, Hamilton told the court he was trying to avoid crashing into Raikkonen.

"We had a great battle and there was no need to take stupid risks, so I had to cut the chicane," he said.

"I've since studied the footage about 10 times and I can remember it vividly like it was yesterday.

"I believe I then gave the advantage back. I honestly, hand on heart, feel I did so."

Whitmarsh told reporters he believed the judges were "confident of our facts" following the hearing.

"Based on the evidence we saw at the time, and from subsequent analysis, we believe any advantage was ceded," he added.

"Therefore it's even more reason to get those points back."

Hamilton has since left France for Singapore ahead of Sunday's first ever night race.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7627941.stm

Published: 2008/09/23 14:18:37 GMT






Wrestling has more credibility than F1. Rolling Eyes
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Ispep
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PostPosted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 18:31    Post subject:
I don't think I would have liked the appeal to have gone through as it would have set a dangerous precedent - especially when factoring in Ferrari clout... but I agree with the sentiment it should have been overturned. If they were to punish him for a single manoeuvre on the track then it should apply exclusively to the next race - not the one in which he did more than one lap in and won the race fairly. One incident (which is highly debatable) shouldn't overturn the actual racing that took place. It's a shambles that they did it, but the FIA have to remain credible and overturning the decision would be equally absurd.

Of course, one hopes they've learnt from this 'mistake' and improve as a body for the future... of course, one is being naive.... Wink


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4me2




Posts: 5434

PostPosted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 18:44    Post subject:
Ispep wrote:
I don't think I would have liked the appeal to have gone through as it would have set a dangerous precedent - especially when factoring in Ferrari clout... but I agree with the sentiment it should have been overturned. If they were to punish him for a single manoeuvre on the track then it should apply exclusively to the next race - not the one in which he did more than one lap in and won the race fairly. One incident (which is highly debatable) shouldn't overturn the actual racing that took place. It's a shambles that they did it, but the FIA have to remain credible and overturning the decision would be equally absurd.

Of course, one hopes they've learnt from this 'mistake' and improve as a body for the future... of course, one is being naive.... Wink


FIA and Credible have no place in the same sentence.

Why have a five and half hour hearing in the first place if Drivethrough penalties aren't allowed to be appealed ?
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4me2




Posts: 5434

PostPosted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 21:40    Post subject:
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Ispep
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PostPosted: Sun, 12th Oct 2008 18:09    Post subject:
Oh man, they learn nothing. Total and complete and utter farce yet again. Why do they even bother having races or flying all around the world - just hold an award ceremony and give Ferrari the damn trophy.


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$en$i
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Posts: 3127

PostPosted: Sun, 2nd Nov 2008 23:48    Post subject:
In the end, congrats for Hamilton and too bad for Massa, the finish for that crowning was epic.
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Ispep
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PostPosted: Mon, 3rd Nov 2008 12:40    Post subject:
Indeed. Sensational race. I was on tenterhooks all the way through Very Happy


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javlar




Posts: 1921
Location: Kalmar, Sweden
PostPosted: Mon, 3rd Nov 2008 21:38    Post subject:
Yeah that race was fucking awesome, possibly the most exciting finish to the championship in the history of formula one.



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